Ideally, children should be supervised at all times. But it is also important to teach them what to do if they must be home alone. Stress that your child must never open the door to a stranger, and he should not tell an unknown caller on the phone that he is alone. Review safety procedures, such as who to call in an emergency. For more information, visit the Department of Health and Human Services website: www.childwelfare.gov/pubs/factsheets/homealone/.

After-school sports give children a chance to learn how to do something well. That gives them confidence they can use in school, too. It’s essential, however, to let your child’s interest, not yours, motivate which sport she chooses. Praise her when she does well, and ignore the rest. She’ll probably get enough knocks on the playing field. Give her hugs at home.

Did you ever wonder why cereal boxes have advertising on the back? It’s because manufacturers know that kids read the boxes. Take a tip from the cereal makers and turn breakfast time into learning time. As your child reads the box, ask questions such as, “What is bran? What other foods are made from bran?” “Where was this cereal made? Can you find it on a map?” “What new name would you give this cereal?”

Experts say that encouraging children to read may be the most important thing parents can do to ensure their child’s school success. Try these three ways to put more reading into your child’s life: 1. Get the whole family involved. Read favorite parts of books aloud to one another. 2. Make sure your child sees you reading. Keep books, newspapers and magazines around. 3. Go to the library often with your child.

Patience is a necessary skill for school success. Teach your child to recognize the signs when he is becoming impatient. Is he talking louder or faster? Tapping his foot? Making comments such as, “This is taking forever?” Once he knows the signs, a little self talk can help. Teach him to say to himself, “Stay calm,” “I’m going to be patient,” and “Getting upset isn’t going to help anything.”

Thursday, April 23, 2015Know before you go—let your child research travel destinations

If you are planning a trip, involve your child in researching the places you’ll visit. Together, look your destination up in an encyclopedia or on the Internet. Help your child learn about the history of the places you’ll pass. Were there battles there? What famous people came from the city or state? What is the population? Doing some research before you leave will make the trip more interesting for your child.

Simple, everyday activities you can do with your child can help her learn at any time. At the grocery store, ask your child to figure out the cost of five apples. On the way home, have her point out signs with the word “right.” Ask “why” and “what if” questions that make your child think: “Why do you think that character is sad?” “What do you think would happen if… ?”

Phrases that compare one child to another, such as “Why can’t you be more like your brother?” can destroy children’s self-esteem, experts say. Accept your child for who he is. Celebrate his strengths and help him become the best he can be. It may be the most valuable gift you can give him.

Here are some test-taking tips that all students should know: 1. Start with the easiest questions first. Mark the more difficult questions to go back to later. 2. Look for clue words. Sometimes one word will indicate the answer, or the method of finding it. 3. Don’t spend so much time on one question that there’s not enough for another. 4. Plan time to review answers and make sure they are accurate and complete.

Smart students are good observers. Here’s a fun observation challenge for your whole family: Give each family member a peanut. Allow a few minutes for each person to observe his peanut and jot down things he notices about it. Next, mix up all the peanuts in a bowl and ask each person to find his own peanut. Discuss which observation made it easiest to identify each person’s peanut.

It’s the Golden Rule: Treat others the way you would like to be treated. It’s key to a happy and productive school environment. One of the best ways to teach your child the Golden Rule is to apply it to your interactions with her. Ask yourself, “Would I want this done to me?” If your answer is no (I wouldn’t want to be ridiculed in front of my friends), then ask, “Why would I want to do this to my child?”